USMMA vs. VCU

Deciding between United States Merchant Marine Academy and Virginia Commonwealth University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

United States Merchant Marine Academy
Virginia Commonwealth University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USMMA Kings Point, NY
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • USMMA Large Suburban
  • VCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • USMMA 976
  • VCU 28,464
  • Type
  • USMMA Public 4 Year
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USMMA
  • VCU #465
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USMMA -
  • VCU -
  • Status
  • USMMA Non-profit
  • VCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USMMA
  • VCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USMMA $895
  • VCU $16,945
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USMMA $895
  • VCU $40,109
  • Room & Board
  • USMMA $0
  • VCU $18,254
  • Average Net Price
  • USMMA $4,101
  • VCU $26,836
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USMMA $5,067
  • VCU $14,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USMMA 10%
  • VCU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USMMA 1,367
  • VCU 20,954
  • Admitted
  • USMMA 468
  • VCU 19,408
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USMMA 34.2%
  • VCU 92.6%
  • Enrolled
  • USMMA 64.1%
  • VCU 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USMMA 1210
  • VCU 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • USMMA 25
  • VCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • USMMA 3.6
  • VCU 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USMMA A-
  • VCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • USMMA Challenging
  • VCU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • USMMA High
  • VCU
  • ACT Range
  • USMMA 22/29
  • VCU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • USMMA 1110/1300
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USMMA Required
  • VCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USMMA Mar 1, 2027
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USMMA 13:1
  • VCU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USMMA
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USMMA -
  • VCU 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USMMA $92,400
  • VCU $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USMMA -
  • VCU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USMMA $6,500
  • VCU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USMMA $67
  • VCU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USMMA 82%
  • VCU 36%
  • % Women
  • USMMA 18%
  • VCU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USMMA Low
  • VCU High
  • HBCU
  • USMMA No
  • VCU No
  • % White
  • USMMA 75%
  • VCU 50%
  • % Asian
  • USMMA 7%
  • VCU 13%
  • % Black
  • USMMA 3%
  • VCU 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • USMMA 10%
  • VCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • USMMA 2%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USMMA 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USMMA 0%
  • VCU 6%
  • % International
  • USMMA 1%
  • VCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USMMA 2%
  • VCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USMMA 7%
  • VCU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USMMA 93%
  • VCU 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • USMMA Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • USMMA
  • VCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • USMMA Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • USMMA No
  • VCU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • USMMA
  • VCU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than USMMA based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Merchant Marine Academy is located in Kings Point, NY (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Merchant Marine Academy 13:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

USMMA vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USMMA or VCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at United States Merchant Marine Academy than VCU ($4,101 vs. $26,836).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 1,793.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than USMMA (about $16,050 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $895.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4,381.5% higher at VCU than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (about $39,214 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $895.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (88% vs. 10%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 180% larger than aid received by United States Merchant Marine Academy students ($14,186 vs. $5,067).

USMMA vs. VCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USMMA or VCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VCU and USMMA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at United States Merchant Marine Academy (1210) is 70 points higher than at VCU (1140).
  • Incoming VCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at USMMA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Merchant Marine Academy 1110/1300; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Merchant Marine Academy 22/29; Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USMMA - Required; VCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USMMA Mar 1, 2027; VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at USMMA (3.6).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than USMMA (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.1% at USMMA vs. 21.6% at VCU.

USMMA vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USMMA and VCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a median of about $44,900 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($92,400 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates have a $16,750 lower median loan debt than VCU graduates ($6,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, USMMA graduates have an estimated $173 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCU graduates ($67 vs. $240).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.